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DENVER (CBS4) – Denver Broncos Willis McGahee is going to get a lot of touches in the red zone, and fans hope a lot of touchdowns. He’s a player whose career almost ended before it began.

It’s really impossible to say just how good McGahee could have been. He was a superstar at the University of Miami, running his way to the top of the NFL draft when disaster struck in the BCS title game against Ohio State in 2003.

While football fans everywhere watched in horror as he sustained tears of his ACL, PCL, and MCL in his left knee, McGahee never thought for a second that his career was in jeopardy.

“I always had faith. I was one of those kids who was determined. If you tell me I can’t do something, I’m going to do it. My job is to prove you wrong. People still say that I can’t play football to this day,” Willis told CBS4’s Gary Miller. “I’ll I’ve got to say is, ‘Watch me work, baby.'”

He said he doesn’t think about what could have been.

“I was always told never to go off of what coulda, shoulda, woulda,” McGahee said. “That wasn’t my destination to go to that second pick or whatever, so I went 23rd, was happy with it and can’t complain and I’m still here.”

The Broncos are thrilled that McGahee is in Denver. Now in his ninth season, he’s had a very good career, including three 1,000-yard campaigns. He still has the speed and the power to be an effective running back. McGahee seems to be a perfect fit for John Fox’s run-oriented offense.

“No doubt about it. This is a great offensive scheme we’ve got going on. Coach Fox — he’s run first and then pass. You don’t get too many coaches like that,” McGahee said. “You’ve got to take advantage of that and I’ve seen a home run hitter when I came here.”

He said it’s all about having fun, whatever role he will be playing. He likes the idea of sharing time with Knowshon Moreno.

“It keeps us fresh regardless of who’s starting and who’s not, you’re going to be fresh even if you’re starting in the beginning of the game and then you come in later on in the game.”

McGahee said the Broncos are looking forward to a fresh start.

“Right now with the attitude this team has and the dedication to get better, watch us work, as I say, watch us work.”

Moreno may be the starter, but McGahee will be the one finishing the drives.